Top role at Greenpeace UK to be shared for the first time

Greenpeace UK has announced the appointed of Areeba Hamid and Will McCallum as joint executive directors.

This is the first time the charity has appointed two people to its top role.

Hamid will join from campaign group The Sunrise Project, where she is currently global finance programe director. The Project focuses on ending financial support for fossil fuels.

“As a team we are determined to collaborate with everyone campaigning for a better world, helping to turn the strength of the environmental movement and society at large into the action we so desperately need,” said Hamid.

McCallum is an internal appointment, having been head of oceans at Greenpeace UK for the last seven years.

McCallum added: “We hope our joint leadership ushers in a new era of Greenpeace working collaboratively with all parts of the movement to bring about the world we need.”

They will replace interim executive director Pat Venditti in October.

The last permanent executive director at the charity was John Sauven, who stepped down earlier this year after 31 years at Greenpeace UK, including 15 years in the top role.

“We’re really excited to have found such a dream team to lead the organisation,” said Greenpeace UK chair Andrew McPartland.

“Areeba and Will are both smart, brave, dynamic campaigners with a fantastic track record of running campaigns that have made a real difference.

“They’ll bring their combined experience, skills and energy to one of the most challenging jobs in the environmental sector.

“As the impacts of the climate emergency escalate all around us, we need a new, compelling vision for how Greenpeace UK can achieve the change we so badly need – Areeba and Will have shown they have that vision.

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